Review: Was today the best back line distribution ever?

Discussion in 'Real Salt Lake' started by RSLer, Apr 11, 2009.

  1. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Since the beginning, I have watched RSL back lines wildly kick or head the ball forward with seemingly little regard for where it lands. It's almost been a team trademark.

    Against DCU today, I may have witnessed the birth of something new at RSL---- the back line as an offensive force.I saw the back liners dribbling and being patient...choosing where they wanted to send the ball, rather than just blast it somewhere. This created, to me, better possession time for RSL. Wherever high level soccer is played, this is the case, and I was thrilled to see it. Olave, especially, was crisper with his passes and seemed to make the transition to controlled possession and attack at a level that I thought was beyond him.

    Did others see this? Did I misinterpret what was happening?
     
  2. Truhlk

    Truhlk Member

    Jun 21, 2007
    I saw some of the same things but I also saw a DCU team that didnt put much preasure on the RSL backs when they had the ball and when they did I remeber RSL mids having to recover for them. One time that stood out to me is in the first half when Olave dribbl;ed forward, lost the ball and Morales had to go back and defend to cover for jamison,

    That said it is a good trend and can only help if they can keep it up. They also switched the ball from one side of the back line to the other better than i have seen this season. All in all it was a better win in my book than the one they got against Columbus. This one feels earned. :)
     
  3. kirsoccer

    kirsoccer BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 29, 2007
    Two of the worst things I've seen in a long time:

    First, Olave trying to dribble the ball through traffic in the midfield before turning it over.

    Then Borchers doing the same thing on the right flank before losing the ball and grabbing the opponents jersey to slow him down.

    Both players looked like a fish out of water in those instances.

    Distribution seemed good, but I don't know that it was extraordinary. However Borchers incredible long pass to Findley, hitting him in perfect stride down the middle of the field was a thing of beauty. Too bad Findley couldn't pull the trigger and get a solid shot off.
     
  4. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i think the back line collectively had a great game.
    They all had bad moments, they are human sadly, but for the most part, RSL had a great defense today.
    The best thing to see, i thought, was the confidence both Wingert and Beltran had on the ball. I remember when outside backs for RSL would panic and dumb a ball at any side of pressure. Now wingert welcomes it, in fact i think he likes it.
    Wingert wont be here much longer if he continues to progress on the outside like he has... i have been really impressed with him so far
     
  5. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I thought Olave's miscue at midfield was forced by Beltran. Beltran was not under pressure and needlessly dumped the ball off to the nearby Olave, when there where better targets. You could see Olave was surprised and actually appeared to be asking Beltran why he did it. When he got the ball he really had no other option than to do what he did...which was almost a disaster for RSL.
     
  6. Truhlk

    Truhlk Member

    Jun 21, 2007
    You have to be impressed with Cox in some of those reguards too..He plays the ball forward very well and didnt try to do to much defensively. He just contained his man and forced them to pass the ball.

    On any other team he is a mid but he is working out okay as a wingback and im encouraged by what i see there. He will be a good change of pace player for RSL at times this year. He just needs to learn not to try to force a thru-ball everytime he has it on the ground. Some of his attempts to get it into the 18 were just stupid.
     
  7. jp992751

    jp992751 Member

    Aug 26, 2006
    Logan, Utah
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I wasn't impressed at all with Cox. His passes were horrid. That said overall I didn't think anyone had a great game. It seemed that we let DC control the pace of the match and our passes and control of the ball were terrible. We were a bit lucky to come out with three points in my opinion. The defense was a bit better distrubting the ball but our midfield was woeful at best.
     
  8. neophyte

    neophyte Member

    Sep 15, 2004
    Salt Lake City
    I think DC's 5-man midfield kept the game disjointed; they also often had 8 men behind the ball when we attacked. They were playing for the draw, or maybe the counter.
    That being said, I think our back line did a good job. I saw them play the ball out of the back many times when they could have just booted downfield. And I still think Rimando is best in the league at starting the offense with a purposeful goal kick, instead of just randomly booting it downfield.
     
  9. RSLer

    RSLer Member+

    Sep 24, 2008
    Stansbury Park, UT
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Rafael Cox has been impressive in both of his appearances this season, including the DCU game. He made one bad pass that I counted. He brought a lot of pace to the field, and seemed to give us a spark. He was solid in defense.

    Our midfield had a very good night. Beckerman had a very fine game. Overall, RSL did not have a great game. However the midfield was a thorn in the DCU side the whole night.
     
  10. I_Believe_In_Kreis

    Oct 2, 2006
    on the pitch
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know if it was the best distribution from the back EVER.....ever is a big word (even with RSL's abbreviated history) that should be used carefully.

    On the downside:
    - Olave and Borchers scared me with their attempts to be midfielders.
    - With his first three touches, Cox lost the ball three times by making unpressured passes right to defenders.
    - Ever since I talked up his offensive ability, Beltran has been fairly awkward with the ball.

    On the upside:
    - Wingert continues to be Wingert....not spectacular going forward, but always solid.
    - After he settled down, Cox was good offensively (I'm not sold on his defense, but that's a story for another time).
    - Borchers' ball over the top to Findley was the most beautiful ball I've ever seen him strike. Perfect pace and loft, with enough backspin to keep the ball from skipping right to the GK. A great touch from somebody who's definitely not known for his touch.

    Maybe one reason we looked so good distributing out of the back is because of how often our mids tracked back to defend. Having Beckerman/Javi working the ball deep out of our own end definitely adds a touch of class.
     

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